The Business of Pizza

So, you love pizza and make it all the time at home. Are you looking to take this love to the next level? Opening your own pizzeria might be just for you! Like any business, you have to have some good information, know-how, and a lot of hard work to make it a success. But you will being doing something you love, hopefully making a great living.

Franchise vs. Ownership
In general, there are two ways to go about getting started in the pizza business: franchising or owning your own pizza shop. There are some basic differences between the two approaches.

• Owning a franchise means that you have limited control over some basic parts of your business operations. Menu items, pricing, marketing, supplies, and even production techniques will all be dictated by the larger corporation. When you own your own pizzeria, you are responsible for all of these decisions.
  
  
• You will probably need more cash to buy a franchise than to start your own business. Franchises usually require cash up front, and you will be paying a franchise royalty fee as well as long as you own the business. When starting your own pizzeria, you can often purchase used equipment and save a considerable amount of money.
  
  
• Starting up a franchise can be easier than starting your own pizzeria from scratch. You begin your business with name recognition and issues such as supplies, production, and advertising already established.
  
  
• With an independently-owned pizzeria, you are in charge and are responsible for all the decisions. You are also responsible if things don’t go as planned. If you are inexperienced in running a business or working in the restaurant industry, this can be quite a challenge. When you purchase a franchise, the franchiser will be available to help you with financing, hiring issues, management techniques, advertising issues, and how to manage your facility. 
  
  

So, it boils down to this. If you have the spirit of a true entrepreneur, you probably would not be happy with owning a franchise. Independent ownership works well for self-starters, people with experience in the restaurant management industry, and people who have support (both in expertise and financial) from someone who has worked in this industry. A person who wants a more turn-key type operation, who is interested in having a lot of top-down support, and who wants to see larger growth at the beginning of the business is better suited for a franchise. Money is a consideration in both approaches, so if you are looking for the better deal, you will have to do your research, as there is no one answer to this question.

For a pizza lover and someone who wants to own his or her own business, what a wonderful lifelong profession this could be. Here are some great resources to check out if you are interested in starting your own pizzeria: